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Nanosecond-Duration Electric Pulses Open Nanometer-Size Pores in Cell Plasma Membrane

  • Conference paper
World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, September 7 - 12, 2009, Munich, Germany

Part of the book series: IFMBE Proceedings ((IFMBE,volume 25/13))

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Abstract

We found that ultra-short electric pulses (60 or 600 ns duration) applied to mammalian cells cause profound, dose-dependent increase of plasma membrane electrical conductance. This effect is detectable even minutes after the exposure and is explained by formation of long-lived, voltagesensitive, inward-rectifying pores of nanometer diameter (”nanopores”). The phenomenon of nanoelectroporation and the extended lifetime of nanopores can also be demonstrated by a surge of Tl +  uptake in the presence of K +  channel blockers, as well as in CHO cells that express no endogenous voltage-gated K +  channels. Due to their long lifetime, nanopores can have significant impact on cell physiology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Frank Reidy Research Centre for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    A. G. Pakhomov, A. M. Bowman & F. M. Andre

  2. Air Force Research Laboratory, Radio Frequency Radiation Branch, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Brooks City Base, TX, USA

    B. L. Ibey

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

    O. N. Pakhomova

Authors
  1. A. G. Pakhomov
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  2. B. L. Ibey
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  3. A. M. Bowman
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  4. F. M. Andre
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  5. O. N. Pakhomova
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Biomedizinische Technik, Univ. Karlsruhe, Kaiserstr. 12, 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Olaf Dössel

  2. Abt. Medizinische Physik in der Strahlentherapie, Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Wolfgang C. Schlegel

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© 2009 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering

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Pakhomov, A.G., Ibey, B.L., Bowman, A.M., Andre, F.M., Pakhomova, O.N. (2009). Nanosecond-Duration Electric Pulses Open Nanometer-Size Pores in Cell Plasma Membrane. In: Dössel, O., Schlegel, W.C. (eds) World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, September 7 - 12, 2009, Munich, Germany. IFMBE Proceedings, vol 25/13. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03895-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03895-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03894-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03895-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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